Train from Rome to St Jean

[golden1789]

Ciao, I am plannning to do the Camin Frances November 2014. I may be on my own and I am terrified of my backpackgetting lost if I fly. So I live in Rome and would like to train to St Jean. Does anyone know the route to take? I have tried searching the forum first but most replies seem to talk about going to Paris, which seems to be the wrong/longer way...Hope you can help.

Also are there some free Albergues? I will be on a very tight budget.
Grazie, Lauren

 

[NicoZ]

Ciao, I am plannning to do the Camin Frances November 2014. I may be on my own and I am terrified of my backpackgetting lost if I fly. So I live in Rome and would like to train to St Jean. Does anyone know the route to take? I have tried searching the forum first but most replies seem to talk about going to Paris, which seems to be the wrong/longer way...Hope you can help.

Also are there some free Albergues? I will be on a very tight budget.
Grazie, Lauren

Lauren if you're on a tight budget fly. Just make sure your backpack is small enough to carry on the plane. The train will be twice the price or more.

If you must take the train the fast way will go to Paris first. I think both Italo and FS have trains from Rome to Paris. If things haven't changed trenitalia does an over night train to Paris. With Italo you need to go to Torino first but best to check the Italo website .

The shorter way means taking slower trains from Ventimilgia across the south of France. So Roma/Genoa/border/switch to the French service. It's a long trip and the cost adds up.

There is at least one Italian forum dealing with the Camino. It tends to have travel info and other Italian related info. If I can find it I'll post the link

 

[naplesdon]

The trains from Rome can get you to Marseilles pretty easily day and night and some are high speed by Italian standards. From Marseilles you will need to change directions and get a train to Bordeaux, once you are in Bordeaux you will need to switch directions again and head south to Bayonne where the train to SJPdP commences several times a day. Free albergues are an oxymoron, there are several that operate on donations solely, but 5 to 8 euros is about as close to free as you will get it.

 

[golden1789]

Thank you so much for your swift replies. Crikey I can see why everyone suggests going to Paris though...maybe I have to reconsider flying...Am I right in thinking Biarritz is the closest airport? I will also try to find info on the Italian Forum, but my Italian, I am ashamed to say, is not as good as I would like it to be.

 

[NicoZ]

http://compostela.pellegrinando.it/sezioni.php?seid=1736

Try that.

 

[NicoZ]

Try Google translate. It should be good enough for that link

 

[golden1789]

http://compostela.pellegrinando.it/sezioni.php?seid=1736

Try that.

Thankyou, I am looking now and will get my Italian friend to scrutinize it!

 

[golden1789]

Try Google translate. It should be good enough for that link

Amazingly I seem to be able to understand most of it!

 

[whariwharangi]

Several trains: Rome - Ventimiglia - Nice Ville - Marseille - Toulouse - Bayonne - SJPdP

http://www.rome2rio.com/

Biarritz is the closest airport to SJPdP.

 

[naplesdon]

The connection from the airport in Bordeaux to the train station is seamless and Bordeaux is large airport. While the Biarritz Airport is a small 2 gate affair catering to low cost airlines during our summer season and AF flights from Orly.

 

[golden1789]

Several trains: Rome - Ventimiglia - Nice Ville - Marseille - Toulouse - Bayonne - SJPdP

http://www.rome2rio.com/

Biarritz is the closest airport to SJPdP.

That is an amazing website!

 

[PANO]

Lauren, take a flight with Vueling (Vueling.com) from Roma via Barcelona to Pamplona for less than €100. Then, if you really feel the need, take a bus to SJPdP and return from there (silly!), or (much better!) start your CF from Pamplona.

Buen Camino

 

[golden1789]

This has been so useful. I think I am going to have to bite the bullett/feel the fear & do it anyway, re backpack flight loss! I can get a cheap flight to Bordeaux and from their easy train to Bayonne & on to St Jean. Absolutely want to start from St Jean and walk over the mountains...

 

[codecables]

As you are in Rome, you could also get in touch with the confraternita di San giacopo in trastevere

 

[golden1789]

As you are in Rome, you could also get in touch with the confraternita di San giacopo in trastevere

Absolutely brilliant idea and I know Trastevere very well. I have looked them up and know exactly where they are.